Overview & Reviews

Chrysler is generally considered part of the Big Three, a title that refers to the traditional triumvirate of domestic automakers. The current accuracy of this classification is open for debate, but there's no debating the fact that Chrysler has experienced a revival of sorts over the past few years.

Chrysler Corporation was founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, a noted machinist; he'd purchased the Maxwell Motor Corporation of Detroit and used it as the foundation for his new company. The automaker quickly earned a reputation for advanced engineering. In 1928, Chrysler Corporation expanded with the purchase of Dodge and the creation of the DeSoto and Plymouth divisions.

The 1930s saw Chrysler boldly looking toward the future with the introduction of its revolutionary Airflow. Powered by a front-mounted inline-8, the car was one of the first to be designed with aerodynamics in mind, and featured swooping lines and a prominent grille. Perhaps a bit too ahead of its time, the Airflow was a flop with the public. Chrysler was able to survive the lean years of the Depression thanks to strong sales of its entry-level Dodge and Plymouth brands, whose vehicles boasted more traditional designs and much lower price tags.

Chrysler shined postwar. For a period in the late 1940s, it even surpassed Ford as the No. 2 U.S. automaker. The company's storied "Hemi" V8 engine debuted in 1951. Offering 180 horsepower, it was a significant improvement over Chrysler's previous 135-hp V8. The Hemi engine was meant to trounce the V8 offered by Cadillac, Chrysler's rival, and it kick-started Detroit's horsepower race of the 1950s and '60s. The '50s also saw the debut of treasured Chrysler classics like the handsome Town and Country and the sleek 300C.

By 1961, Chrysler had trimmed its line of brands by dropping the DeSoto nameplate. New technologies were also afoot, such as unibody construction (Chrysler was the first of the Big Three to introduce it) and the replacement of generators with alternators for a car's charging system. In the latter half of the '60s, Chrysler was heavily involved with NASCAR and producing performance-oriented cars.

At the same time, however, dark clouds were gathering. As with other domestic automakers, the 1970s proved to be a difficult decade due to the oil crisis, new government regulations and changing consumer tastes. A costly and ineffective overseas expansion further hurt the company's bottom line. By the late '70s, the company was in such financial disarray that it petitioned the government for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to save it from bankruptcy.

Thanks to impressive public campaigning by then-chairman Lee Iacocca, the debut of the well-received K-car platform and the creation of the modern minivan, sales had improved dramatically by the mid-'80s. The government's loan was paid off seven years early. The picture further brightened in the late 1980s with Chrysler's purchase of American Motors Corporation (which netted the company the Jeep brand) and a joint venture with Mitsubishi known as Diamond Star Motors.

Success continued through the early 1990s. In 1998, German-based Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler. At the time, this deal was presented as a merger of equals. But it quickly became apparent that it was more of a purchase, with Daimler being the dominant partner.

Less than a decade later, that merger was no longer, as Daimler sold Chrysler (and Dodge) to a private equity firm in 2007. However, that merger had borne some worthwhile fruit, most notably in the form of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan. The latter shared some chassis components with an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform.

As such, the 300 was a highlight for Chrysler that had a pleasingly solid feel to its driving dynamics that was further sweetened via an available powerful V8 engine. But soon after the split, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy and the federal government intervened with bailout loans. Eventually Chrysler came under control of Italy's Fiat.

Today, the lineup has been pared down to a pair of sedans, a convertible and a minivan. However, after years of having lackluster entries in the very important midsize car category, Chrysler made major improvements in the performance, design and quality of its midsize sedan entry, the 200. The latest 300 also stands as a prime choice for a premium full-size sedan. Still, it remains to be seen as to whether this and future product releases will be enough to restore the company to its former glory.

User Reviews:

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  FROM CADDY DHS TO 300C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By BIGA - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I WAS A CADDY MAN FOR MANY YEARS.. WHEN I SAW THIS CAR ..I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. I BOUGHT ALL THE HIGH END XTRAS INCLUDING THE CUSTOM GRILL AND DIDNT GO OVER $39,000 INCLUDING TAXES ETC. CHRYSLER DID A HELL OF A JOB.... BIG A STATEN ISLAND NY

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  Beautiful Car, Magnificent to Drive - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By ilovemy300c - March 31 - 10:00 am

  My first luxury car. I love it. Ive received so many compliments on it. No problem with the "get up and go".

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  My Excellent Sebring Coupe! - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By Mindy - March 31 - 9:07 am

  I purchased my 02 Sebring LXI coupe used with just over $100,000 miles on it and I was going to be the 3rd owner. I was trading up from my 1997 Sebring coupe. Yep, thats right. I loved my 97 so much I was determined to get another. All maint. records came w/car and throughout very little troubles. And I have done nothing to it but new tires and oil changes in the 2 years I have owned it. It now has 125,000 miles and runs great. I feel so lucky to have such a great car. They are EXCELLENT cars, I highly recommend. Chrysler and other domestic cars are all I will ever own.

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  Investment - 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
  By hmg - March 30 - 9:25 am

  Traded up from a GM product. This vehicle is fun to drive and the interior is great in the touring signature series. Chrysler cant fail with more cars at a good investment price and this stand behind bumper to bumper warranty coverage. No more pacificas, too bad. At least I got mine! Cant wait for a summer road trip.

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  I Love My Cirrus - 2000 Chrysler Cirrus
  By geckisme - March 29 - 11:15 pm

  I have 160,000 miles on my car and its still running great. I commute 600 miles per week and it is very reliable. I highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Decent Car for the money - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By Chris - March 28 - 2:39 pm

  I bought my LXi wrecked with 29000 miles and rebuilt it. It now has 86000 and still runs great. At 10 years old, its showing its age. Comments: The 3.2 is a great engine. Could (and does)go to 150,000 if cared for. The 2.7 is horrible. Stay away at all costs. I agree with other posters: Gas mileage is very good ~25-27mpg for a big car. Car is huge inside. Things wear out on this car like any other (battery, air cond, brakes, waterpumps, etc.). Has an issue with the automatic air conditioning display. The display will quit displaying the temp, but the buttons, and control still function normally. To me, not a huge deal.

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  First american car - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By x-saab - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Does not provide tight turn handlling

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  Bowers Review - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mike Bowers - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding except for the power.

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  Excellent Minivan with a few quirks.. - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Eddie K - March 27 - 5:52 pm

  I have owned several Honda Odysseys over the last 9 years and coming straight from a 2014 Odyssey to the Pacifica is a genuine pleasure. The ride is sooo much quieter. The handling is actually great for a minivan. The engine and transmission are fantastic - very smooth and has tons of pickup when you put your foot down. Very very comfortable inside and the styling is 2nd to none. The kids LOVE this car. They prefer it over my wifes Audi Q5 for the space, comfort and technology. Some very minor gripes...... Its not possible to enter a destination into the NAV when the car is moving and thats just ridiculous. You have to stop driving before using the NAV. Forget it. Use Waze. Chrysler - why cant my passenger enter a destination? There are a few other strange bugs in the system.. Listen to XM with your phone charging via USB and then select NAV/Climate and the system transfers the audio so that i plays through your phone speakers. Meaning you have to then pickup and unlock your phone to stop it playing. I also cannot turn off the 2nd row heated seats from the front console for some bizarre reason. BUT dont let these minor issues stop you from owning what is an excellent vehicle.

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  consumer satisfaction - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By sally conklin - March 27 - 3:00 pm

  Aside from the great fun to drive..the performance, get up and go with the turbo, as well as the ease of getting in and out are a significant plus. I am a 72 year old Senior as are most of my friends. Most need a crane to get in and out of cars of any kind and find even getting into the back seat, remember it is a two door and with the front seat all the way back they do very well. Milage is summer only. Covered in the garage now..SUV for MIchigan winter..Had it since April 2004